'Climategate' and 'glaciergate' not putting off low carbon business invesment

Both 'climategate' and 'glaciergate' have called into question specific details within the body of climate change evidence. In the case of ‘climategate’, scientist from the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit (CRU) were accused of manipulating climate change data after hundreds of their emails were ‘stolen’ by hackers and published online. 

These allegations are currently the subject of an independent review, headed by Sir Muir Russell, due to report this Spring.

‘Glaciergate’, meanwhile, refers to the retraction of the claim by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that there was a "very high" chance of glaciers disappearing from the Himalayas by 2035. 

The IPCC, conceded last month that "the clear and well-established standards of evidence required by the IPCC procedures were not applied properly" in making this claim.

Speaking at the Henley Business School last night, chairman of the Environment Agency, Lord Smith said: “We should not underestimate the damage that has been done by the glee with which the sceptics have seized on the one or two scientific mistakes [...]

“Gradually, the public here in the UK, and across much of Europe, had come to accept the reality and the urgency of climate change. There were still debates about what precisely to do to counter it, but at least the fundamental recognition was there. 

“I think that is probably less true now than it was three months ago. And that is a tragedy.”

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said today that, as part of the wider community, directors of UK businesses were just as likely as anyone else to have had their confidence in the climate science undermined by the recent ‘scandals’.

Businesses still investing in low carbon economy

But Sam Turvey, communications manager at the BCC, said that he had seen no evidence that any loss of confidence was translating into an unwillingness among companies to invest in the low carbon economy.

“Most businesses, to be honest, want to reduce their energy intensiveness anyway, because it will reduce their bills – so there’s not just a carbon reduction incentive, there’s a financial incentive.”

Although Turvey said that it was the BCC’s view that the climate science needed to be “transparent”, he suggested that its findings would not be the prime concern of most businesses. 

“Broadly speaking, businesses will always look at it from the point of view of ‘what will help the bottom line?’,” he said. “When investing in more energy efficient equipment, whether for a manufacturing firm or for an office, they’ll do it regardless if it’s good for the bottom line.”

Related News:
Low Carbon Economy News
Climategate in the News
Green Investment News

Related Links:
www.britishchambers.org.uk
www.cru.uea.ac.uk
www.ipcc.ch
www.environment-agency.gov.uk